Slack Bay

Slack Bay sits on the Normandy coast in 1910, where sun, salt air, and a curious mix of travelers fill the beaches. When a string of tourist disappearances unsettles the holiday crowd, two weary inspectors arrive to sort fact from rumor. Machin and Malfoy wander through a world where fishermen, aristocrats, and vacationers mingle with comic politeness, and every conversation hints at a hidden motive. The coast becomes a stage for misdirection and dry humor as quarrels flare and secrets drift to the surface. Beneath the twinkling farce, questions of class, loyalty, and desire tease the eye without spoiling the punchline. The film fuses deadpan timing with surreal atmosphere to keep you guessing. Its pacing shifts from breezy farce to contemplative silence, inviting viewers to notice the quiet details of the seaside world, from gulls skimming the water to stubborn routines that rarely change.

Directed by Bruno Dumont, Slack Bay debuted in 2016 as an offbeat period comedy. The mood blends a sly, ballad like atmosphere with a strong ensemble led by Fabrice Luchini, Juliette Binoche, and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. The setting and tonal shifts are executed with Dumonts signature restraint, using long takes and deadpan timing to heighten the comedy.

Box Office: The film grossed about 920,719 worldwide against a production budget of 8,104,734. It did better in France and opportune markets where Dumont's films usually play to loyal supporters.

Slack Bay has been noted for its quirky humor and visual wit, combining period detail with absurdity. Fans of Bruno Dumont praise its unusual tone and the way it lingers on character oddities, creating memorable tableaux that echo in French cinema conversations, and inspiring discussions about genre boundaries.

Critics were divided on the balance of satire and sentiment, yet most agreed the film offers sharp observations on class and communal life. The story uses humor to probe pretensions and loyalties, while letting mood and performances carry the subtext, sometimes inviting empathy, in a way that lingers after the credits.